Dallas Stars Blog

Philip Larsen to spend last week with Stars

The Stars announced today that Philip Larsen will be joining the team in practice this week and could play a game or two.

The 20-year-old defenseman from Denmark played in Sweden this season for Frolunda and his season is now over. Because he will play in North America next season either for the Dallas Stars or the Texas Stars (AHL), management felt it might be good for him to get a head start.

Larsen is probably the reason that the Stars felt they could trade Ivan Vishnevskiy for Kari Lehtonen. They believe Larsen could be the skilled defenseman that is needed to run this type of offense and that he could be ready to step in as quickly as next season. He looked great in training camp, and there is much buzz about him. He’s listed at 6-1, 183 and is pretty skinny, but he’s quick and smart.

My guess is a lot of people will be interested to see him in an NHL game.

Here’s the press release:

Frisco, Tex. – The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Philip Larsen from Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League (SEL).

Larsen, 20, finished the season with one goal and nine assists for 10 points in 42 games with Frolunda. He played seven games in the SEL playoffs, earning six penalty minutes in the first round loss. Larsen participated in training camp with Dallas last fall, playing in three pre-season games for the Stars with a plus-two rating and six penalty minutes.

The 6-1, 183-pound native of Esbjerg, Denmark, has played in 116 games over four seasons with Frolunda, amassing 27 points (3g, 24a). He added five goals and five assists in 24 games with Boras in the Swedish second division in 2007-08. Larsen represented his country in four consecutive World Junior Championships (2006-2009) as well as the 2009 World Championships.

Larsen was Dallas’ fifth-round selection (No. 149 overall) in the 2008 Entry Draft, becoming the first Danish defenseman to ever be selected in the NHL Entry Draft and just the sixth Dane overall to be drafted. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on April 20, 2009.

Larsen will fly to Dallas today from Europe and join the team for practice when the Stars return from their current one-game trip to St. Louis.